Contents

Effect

Pokémon with this ability are unaffected by one-hit knockout moves. Starting in Generation V, the ability to work like a Focus Sash, preventing any attack that reduces the Pokémon from full health to 0 from completely knocking out the Pokémon, leaving 1 HP. This includes confusion damage but excludes moves that cause the use to faint like Explosion. If the Pokémon is restored to full health or only has a maximum on 1 HP, Sturdy can activate again. Sturdy only applies on the first hit of multi-strike moves so, it can faint the Pokémon on the second hit..

As a Hidden Ability

Trivia

During his Gym battle in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Brock uses a Rhyhorn with this Ability, even though Rhyhorn cannot normally have that Ability.

Since Generation V, if Sturdy is obtained on Shedinja by replacing Wonder Guard with an Ability that can be Skill Swapped with Sturdy, it would be able to activate for every attack, including every hit of a multi-strike move. However, indirect damage, such as sandstorm, will not activate Sturdy, and will KO Shedinja.